Great Famine

The Great Famine

Causes

Subdivision in land

Most of the people depended on farming because the manufacturing industry was not developed like in Britain. As the population grew, fathers subdivided their land between their sons and gave a dowry to their daughters. As farms got smaller, families became poorer.

Dependence on the potato

Poorer families depended on the potato to live, because it was easy to grow and nutritious. For poorer families, their three meals over the day consisted of potatoes only. By the 1840s, the potato was almost the only food source for 1/3 of the population.

The blight

Blight was a disease that attacked and rot potatoes. When the blight destroyed the potato crop, those who depended on the potato had no other food source which led to severe hunger and starvation.

The Course of the Famine

In 1843-45 some areas were affected, and the early crop had escaped. The blight hit again in 1846, this time the entire crop was destroyed so starvation and hardship affected many people.

The blight was less severe in 1847, however, the seed potatoes used for planting had been eaten so the crop was smaller. Starvation was widespread. In 1848, the blight struck again with a stronger force, potatoes were rotted. The blight struck again in 1849-50, but the worst effects of the famine were over. Visitors from all over came to see for themselves how bad the conditions were.

Skibbereen

The worst conditions however were struck in Skibbereen, The Skibbereen workhouse was built for 800 people. But the numbers had increased to nearly 4000 in 1849.this caused emergency workhouses to be opened. Disease effected rich and poor. There were many estate clearances due to increased evictions for non-payments of rent.

There was an increase in emigration in Baltimore. 110 girls aged between 14-18 were transported to Australia under the Earl Gray Scheme. Skibbereen lost almost 1/3 of its population, mass graves were used for most burials.

Government Actions

The British government responded to the Great Famine in two different ways under two leaders. Sir Robert Peel acted quickly in 1845 by importing £100,000 worth of Indian corn from America to help feed starving people and by setting up public work schemes so the poor could earn money building roads and piers

In 1846, Lord John Russell became Prime Minister and followed a policy of laissez-faire, believing the government shouldn’t interfere too much in the economy and that Irish property owners should help pay for Irish poverty. His government expanded public works and passed the Soup Kitchen Act in 1847, which helped feed around 3 million people each day. Workhouses were also used to support the poor, but they became overcrowded and more prone for disease, spreading quickly.

Consequences of the Great Famine

Emigration continued

Emigration continued to America, Canada, Australia and Britain, and along this with earlier emigration, created the Irish Diaspora.

Politics

The British Government was blamed for the famine. Emigrants took their hatred of England with them to America. They later supported the Fenians, the Land League, Home Rule and the rebels in the 1916 Rising and the IRA when these groups opposed the British Government.

Fall in population

The population fell by at least 2 million, half died from hunger and half emigrated. The cottier and agricultural labours were worse and hit western seaboards suffered the greatest fall in population